metamorphic
Yellow Quartzite (Beach Pebble)
Quartzite (primarily SiO2)
Hardness: 7 (Mohs scale); Color: Pale yellow to tan; Luster: Vitreous to waxy; Structure: Granular/crystalline; Cleavage: None; Specific Gravity: 2.63-2.65
- Hardness
- 7 (Mohs scale)
- Color
- Pale yellow to tan
- Luster
- Vitreous to waxy
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Physical properties
Hardness: 7 (Mohs scale); Color: Pale yellow to tan; Luster: Vitreous to waxy; Structure: Granular/crystalline; Cleavage: None; Specific Gravity: 2.63-2.65
Formation & geological history
Formed from the metamorphism of quartz sandstone under intense heat and pressure. This specific specimen has been further shaped by mechanical weathering and water erosion on a beach or riverbed, attaining a smooth, rounded 'pebble' texture over thousands of years.
Uses & applications
Used primarily as decorative stone, in landscaping, and as a component in construction aggregates. Smooth specimens like this are often kept as pocket stones or used in rock tumblers.
Geological facts
Quartzite is so durable that it can outlast the original mountains from which it came. The yellow coloring is usually caused by trace amounts of iron oxide (limonite) stained throughout the mineral matrix.
Field identification & locations
Identify in the field by its inability to be scratched by a steel knife (unlike calcite) and its lack of visible grains compared to sandstone. It is ubiquitous in glaciated regions and coastal areas like the Great Lakes or Atlantic coast.
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